The Writings of Carl Schurz/Volume 1

by Carl Schurz and others

CONTENTS OF VOLUME I

	PAGE
Introduction	iii
Editor's Preface	v
1852.
To Charlotte Voss, October 20th	1
First impressions of the United States.
To Malwida von Meysenbug (autumn or early winter)	5
Political views changed by life in the United States.
1854.
To Mrs. Schurz, March 15th	8
Out-door life in Washington—Indian visitors—Political acquaintances.
To Mrs. Schurz, March 23d	11
The Pierce Administration—Sarah Bolton—Desire for public life aroused—Breakfasts with General [James] Shields.
1855.
To Gottfried Kinkel, January 23d	14
Nebraska bill—United States, a world-power—Annexation of Cuba.
To Gottfried Kinkel, March 25th	18
Will visit Europe but the United States to be his permanent home—America and Germany natural allies.
To Mrs. Schurz, August 6th	20
Life in Wisconsin.
To Mrs. Schurz, September 29th	21
Surveying old farm for building lots—Reflections on news from the Crimean war.
To Mrs. Schurz, October 23d	23
Invited to welcome Governor Barstow—Urged to enter politics.
1856.
To Gottfried Kinkel, December 1st, 17th	23
Speaks often in public—Studies law—Fills several public positions.
1857.
To Friedrich Althaus, February 6th	28
Lawless murders in Kansas vs. legally sanctioned murders in Europe—Attack on Sumner followed by plainer speaking in the North—Sudden death of Brooks.
To Horace Rublee, November 11th	31
Germans not to blame for Republican defeat in Wisconsin—Schurz's defeat only an incentive to future activity for the party.
1858.
To Heinrich Meyer, January 15th	32
Fraud the cause of Schurz's defeat—Financial crisis in the West.
To Gottfried Kinkel, February 15th, 23d	33
Nomination for lieutenant-governor of Wisconsin—Success of his speeches—Popularity with Americans—Colonel of militia.
To Gerrit Smith, September 14th	35
Political activity limited by lack of funds—Results from recent Republican defeat different in the West from those in the East.
To Friedrich Althaus, November 5th	36
Speech on “The Irrepressible Conflict” gives Schurz a national reputation—Member of the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin.
To J. F. Potter, December 24th	38
Fears a coalition between some Republican leaders and anti-Administration Democrats—Possible nomination for governor—Reasons for not desiring this—Douglas will destroy his own chances.
1859.
To Edward L. Pierce, March 26th	41
Action of Massachusetts legislature on suffrage question will have bad effect on foreign-born Republicans—German voters hold balance of power in the West.
To Edward L. Pierce, April 6th	45
Publication of State-rights speech in Massachusetts paper to influence vote on amendment to State constitution.
To Mrs. Schurz, April 13th, 14th, 15th	46
Enthusiastic reception in Boston—Responds to toast—Invited to meet Governor Banks—Jefferson dinner—Visits historic places.
Speech: True Americanism, April 18th	48
To Edward L. Pierce, April 22d	72
Interview with Greeley—Efforts to defeat two-year amendment—Wilson must write a “strong” letter.
To Edward L. Pierce, April 30th	73
Censured and praised for Boston speech—Responsibility of Massachusetts.
To Edward L. Pierce, May 12th	75
Wisconsin voters influenced by political action of Massachusetts.
To J. F. Potter, August 12th	77
Atlas needs financial help—State election—Potter, a delegate to State convention.
1860.
Speech: Douglas and Popular Sovereignty, January 4th	79
To Mrs. Schurz, March 2d, 5th, 9th	108
Delegate to Republican National Convention—To argue for State-rights in Booth case—Political excitement in Chicago—Success of Springfield speech.
To J. F. Potter, March 17th	107
Organized Republican activity in Indiana.
To J. F. Potter, April 12th	111
Republican party gaining in the West—Seward as Presidential candidate.
To J. R. Doolittle, April 12th	114
Pryor-Potter prospective duel—Lincoln politically stronger than Wade.
To J. F. Potter, April 17th	115
Congratulations on outcome of challenge.
To Abraham Lincoln, May 22d	116
Reason for supporting Seward—Ready to work for Lincoln—Plan of campaign.
From Abraham Lincoln, June 18th	118
Approves Schurz plan—No ill feeling because of loyalty to Seward—Fondness for Schurz.
To Mrs. Schurz, July 25th, 29th	119
Call from and dinner with Lincoln—Wideawakes escort Lincoln and Schurz to mass-meeting—Republican gain among Germans.
Speech: The Doom of Slavery, August 1st	122
To Mrs. Schurz, September 24th, 28th	160
Effect of campaign speeches on Germans—Great demonstration in Pittsburg—Return home delayed.
To Horace Rublee, October 14th	163
Itinerary to November 4th—Expenses while in field.
To Mrs. Schurz, November 14th	164
Influence sought by officeseekers—Secession movements in the South—Longs for home and rest.
To J. F. Potter, November 30th	165
End of slave-power imminent—Mission to Italy.
To Mrs. Schurz, December 17th	168
Will leave Republican party, in case of compromise.
To J. F. Potter, December 17th	168
Congressional vote on Corwin resolutions, before March 4th, must be prevented.
To J. P. Sanderson, December 22d	170
Remuneration inadequate to campaign expenses—Continued activity—Need of rest.
To J. F. Potter, December 24th	172
Republicans must not compromise—Buchanan's loyalty suspected—Rumored plan to prevent Lincoln's inauguration—Sardinian mission.
To Mrs. Schurz, December 24th, 27th	177
Republican party strengthened by Lincoln's firmness—War inevitable—Speech for a Representative—Offer from Atlantic Monthly.
1861.
To Mrs. Schurz, February 10th, March 4th	179
Hears Lincoln's inaugural—Positions for friends—Precautions at inauguration.
To President Lincoln, May 19th	180
Authority sought for organizing German troops.
From President Lincoln, May 27th	182
Directions for German regiments.
To Adolph Meyer, July 3d	182
Buying court-clothes in Paris.
To N. B. Judd, August 27th	183
Does amnesty to political offenders of '49 apply to Schurz?
To Secretary Seward, September 14th	185
Suggestions for securing the sympathy of foreign Powers by means of an anti-slavery policy.
From Secretary Seward, October 10th	191
War measures must not be influenced by questions of foreign policy.
To President Lincoln, November 11th	193
Spain's changed attitude towards the United States—Leave of absence or resignation.
To Charles Sumner, November 14th	195
Immediate emancipation imperative as a war measure—Spain's friendly attitude.
To Secretary Seward, November 16th	200
General Prim and his mission to Mexico.
1862.
To President Lincoln, May 16th	206
Hunter's emancipation proclamation—War measures subject to change because of circumstances.
To Charles Sumner, May 16th	207
Hunter's proclamation, ostentatious—Schurz anxious to enter the Army.
From Charles Sumner, July 5th	209
Northern Army should be recruited from Southern slaves.
To President Lincoln, November 8th	209
Unwise selection of counsellors and commanders, the cause of non-success.
From President Lincoln, November 10th	211
Facts of more value than opinions.
To President Lincoln, November 20th	213
Defeat of Republican party—Non-success of Union Army—Waning of popular confidence in Administration—Criticism of war policy.
From President Lincoln, November 24th	219
Responsibility of the Administration—Need of success—Accusations should be sustained.
1863.
To President Lincoln, January 24th	221
Army of the Potomac demoralized by lack of confidence, by sickness and desertion.
To President Lincoln, January 25th	222
Acknowledging nomination to major-generalship—Reasons for non-acceptance.
To Leslie Combs, November 6th	223
Calumny refuted—Test of courage proposed.
1864.
Speech: The Treason of Slavery, October 7th	225
To Theodor Petrasch, October 12th	248
Reasons for defending Lincoln's Administration—His rare qualities—Schurz and General Hooker.
1865.
To Mrs. Schurz, April 18th	252
Assassination of Lincoln—Sherman as mediator between North and South.
To Charles Sumner, May 9th	254
Efforts to restore political status to Mississippi, Georgia and North Carolina—Johnson's policy unsatisfactory.
To President Johnson, May 13th	256
Advises against secret trial of conspirators against Lincoln and his Cabinet.
To Charles Sumner, June 5th	258
President Johnson and his Southern advisers—Wendell Phillips favors repudiation—Contemplated journalistic enterprise—Agent needed for lecturing tour.
To President Johnson, June 6th	260
Vote on the restoration of South Carolina—Democratic and logical method—Letters on reconstruction.
From Charles Sumner, June 15th	263
Inconsistencies of President Johnson's reconstruction policy.
To Mrs. Schurz, June 16th	264
Sent to visit the Southern States and report on existing conditions—Mission approved by Stanton.
From Charles Sumner, June 22d	265
Johnson's policy a “defiance to God and Truth.”
To Charles Sumner, June 27th	265
Preparations for journey through the South.
To Charles Sumner, July 3d	266
Southern State-elections best delayed until after the meeting of Congress.
From Charles Sumner, July 11th	267
“Equality before the law and consent of the governed.”
To Charles Sumner, August 2d	267
Military rule alone can prevent clash between whites and blacks—Authorship of articles in the Advertiser, a secret.
To Mrs. Schurz, August 27th, September 2d	268
Passing of the negro from slavery to freedom—Conflict between General Slocum and Governor Sharkey—Efforts to secure approval of Government for Slocum.
To President Johnson, September 5th	270
Unwarranted newspaper attacks—Journalistic work necessitated by insufficient compensation—Asks justification by the Government.
To Edwin M. Stanton, October 17th	272
Asks explanation of unfriendly reception by the President.
To Charles Sumner, October 17th	274
President ignores Southern mission—Schurz writing his “report”—Meeting with Sumner and Andrew to be arranged for—Newspaper to be started at St. Louis.
From Charles Sumner, October 20th	276
Analogous treatment of the Chief Justice—Andrew will meet Schurz in New York—Delay necessary in rehabilitating rebel States—Schurz should be in Congress.
To Charles Sumner, November 13th	277
Will ask permission of the President to print Report on the South at once—Hopes it will influence the attitude of Congress and the country.
From Charles Sumner, November 15th	278
Will call for Report—President's course “disheartening”—Pertinent article in Atlantic Monthly.
Report on the Condition of the South, December 18th	279
From Charles Sumner, December 25th	374
Commends “Report on the Condition of the South.”
1866.
To Heinrich Meyer, June 10th	375
Books and papers destroyed by fire.
Speech: The Logical Results of the War, September 8th	377
To Heinrich Meyer, November 8th	417
Republican majority in Congress—Reactionary laws in the South—Defects in Johnson's character.
1867.
To Mrs. Schurz, September 4th	418
Journalistic work, its limitations and its compensations.
1868.
Speech: The Road to Peace—a Solid, Durable Peace, September 19th	419
1869.
To Benjamin F. Loan, January 7th	473
Exercise of the franchise by rebels.
Remarks before the Missouri General Assembly on being chosen U. S. Senator, January 20th	474
From C. D. Drake, January 21st	480
Welcomes Schurz as colleague in U. S. Senate.
To C. D. Drake, January 28th	481
Acknowledges congratulations.
To W. M. Grosvenor, March 29th	481
Efforts towards the repeal of the tenure of office act.
To James Taussig, April 18th	482
Government patronage a lottery—Need of reform.
1870.
To W. M. Grosvenor, March 31st	483
Annexation of Santo Domingo.
Speech: Enforcement of the Fifteenth Amendment, United States Senate, May 19th	484
To President Grant, July 17th	509
Requests private interview.
Address to the People of Missouri, September 10th	510
To Hamilton Fish, September 10th	518
America and the Franco-Prussian War.
To Matthew H. Carpenter, October 20th	520
Unfriendly attitude of Grant because of bolting Republicans.
From B. Gratz Brown, November 26th	521
Republican victory in Missouri due to the “prudence, sagacity and indomitable canvass” of Schurz.

SPEECHES, CORRESPONDENCE
AND POLITICAL PAPERS OF

CARL SCHURZ

SELECTED AND EDITED BY

FREDERIC BANCROFT

ON BEHALF OF
THE CARL SCHURZ MEMORIAL COMMITTEE

Volume I.

October 20, 1852-November 26, 1870

G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS
NEW YORK⁠LONDON
The Knickerbocker Press
1913

Copyright, 1913

by

SCHURZ MEMORIAL COMMITTEE

The Knickerbocker Press, New York